ইংল্যান্ড ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ

ইংল্যান্ড's planned Women's Test against ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ in the Caribbean has been scrapped to accommodate the tourists' red-ball preparations on home soil ahead of the Ashes.

ইংল্যান্ড's planned Women's Test against ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ in the Caribbean has been scrapped to accommodate the tourists' red-ball preparations on home soil ahead of the Ashes.। The ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ fixtures, listed on the ICC's Future Tours Programme for April and May, will now feature only three T20Is and three ODIs with dates and venues to be confirmed by Cricket ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ in due course. Those matches are expected to take place following the opening round of domestic One-Day Cup matches, which will involve all ইংল্যান্ড players.। The ECB laid out detailed plans on Wednesday for their targeted assault on the 2027 Ashes Test. Those plans include a three-day game against অস্ট্রেলিয়া A and three red-ball best vs best matches during which time players will have a chance to vie for Ashes selection in English conditions.।

The schedule means ইংল্যান্ড Women will play four red-ball matches in addition to their previously ঘোষণা করেছেন 10-day red-ball training camp in Bangalore in January before meeting অস্ট্রেলিয়া at Headingley in June for the opening match of the multi-format Ashes series.। With বিজয় worth four points, compared to two for each of the subsequent white-ball matches, ইংল্যান্ড head প্রধান কোচ Charlotte Edwards has highlighted the Test as a priority. ইংল্যান্ড lost the previous Ashes Test at the MCG by an innings and 122 রান under her predecessor, Jon Lewis, and, with Edwards in charge this year, were defeated by ভারত in the first Women's Test to be held at লর্ডস by 270 রান.। The move comes with the current domestic structure unable to afford many opportunities for players to experience multi-day red-ball cricket but, somewhat ironically, at the expense of a Test match in the Caribbean.।

"Accommodating this thorough programme of preparation in home conditions has necessitated revising the schedule of matches for ইংল্যান্ড Women's tour to ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ in April, which is due to take place once the English domestic season is already under way," the ECB announcement stated.। "The ECB is grateful to Cricket ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ for agreeing to its request, and for the understanding and collaborative approach taken in these discussions."। The decision to abandon the Test comes against a backdrop of financial difficulty engulfing ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ Cricket. In September, Cricket ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ ঘোষণা করেছেন a cut in players' retainer fees as well as the suspension of the men's Super50 টুর্নামেন্ট and the women's T20 Blaze for this year chiefly due to operational costs.।

Last month, ECB chair Richard Thompson said his board could be prepared to step in and fund the Women's Test in the Caribbean to protect ইংল্যান্ড's Ashes preparations. However, it is understood that ইংল্যান্ড's red-ball schedule was designed not with financial considerations in mind but performance-based factors centred on playing a number of games in a condensed period of time in home conditions.। Richard Gould, the ECB Chief Executive, said on Wednesday that the latest plan would give Edwards and her team "the appropriate game time to be ready" for the challenge of an Ashes Test.। "Best versus best in English conditions provides a valuable opportunity for the team," Gould said. "It also allows us to assess our strength in depth, give opportunities to more players and get a number of competitive multi-day cricket matches across a longer period into the wider group.।

"We appreciate the constructive conversations with Cricket ওয়েস্ট ইন্ডিজ that have enabled us to look forward to an exciting tour of the Caribbean before focusing our attentions back on our home summer."।